$3m to stage Ellerslie flower show

This year's Ellerslie International Flower Show cost nearly $3 million to stage – the same figure Christchurch ratepayers paid to secure the event.

A breakdown of how the money was spent is being kept under wraps by the Christchurch City Council because it fears giving competitors sensitive information will threaten its chances of bidding for similar events.

This year's show reported a loss of $88,000, compared with a $224,000 profit for the first Ellerslie show staged in the Garden City last year.

Christchurch mayoral candidate Liz Gordon said the figures showed the event had become too commercialised and had moved away from its simple "flower show" concept.

"The high costs involved in staging the show are driving the event into a very highly comcommercialised model – almost a money-grabbing setup," she said.

Details released to The Press under the Official Information Act showed $2.97m in expenses were incurred this year.

Council legal services manager Chris Gilbert said the figure covered event production, ticketing, event traffic, volunteers, gardens, sponsorship, sales and marketing and administration costs.

Show revenue, thought to have been $2.88m, came from sponsorship, exhibitors, advertisers, ticket sales and "miscellaneous sources" such as car parking.

The council declined to release a breakdown of all costs incurred at this year's show.

Under the act, the council had 20 working days to respond to the information request. The information was due on April 19, but The Press was given details 33 working days after that deadline.

The request sought a breakdown of management fees, salaries and other money paid to individuals and companies involved in the show.

Gilbert said the council had good reason to withhold this information. "If this information is released to the public, this will mean that competitors have access to material concerning what is required to run a successful event similar to the Ellerslie Flower Show."

The show was the sole business of the event management company paid to stage it. The council did not name the company.

The two parties signed a confidentiality agreement that included details on prices, price formulas and costs breakdowns.

The company's budget and business plan for the show had to be approved by council management.

- © Fairfax NZ News